The first time I heard of the term "fast fashion" was when I was thirteen. I was watching Marzia's look book videos before they became a popular trend and she was mentioning that consumers should avoid cheap clothing that are made in stores like Forever 21 or H&M to last the trend or season. But as a low-budget thirteen year old, my family had no other choice.
When I was a senior in high school, I took a class called Environment Literature that changed my point of view drastically on waste and the term "fast fashion" was brought up again frequently. Even as a seventeen year old then, I could not break free of the occasional cheap price, but I was doing a lot more thrift shopping than the next teenager. Thrift shopping is the next best thing if you're a high consumer of clothing, as it recycles new and old clothing for generations.
However, the occasional brands such as Forever 21 and H&M must sneak into my closet when I am asleep, but in a way I do not feel exactly guilty about it. Fast fashion uses the term "fast" for a reason, typically people will throw these pieces of clothing out when they become ruined after a few washes, or so I have heard. The problem with me though is that the clothing I bought from these stores from years ago, I still have. I still wear the small camis, turtlenecks, dresses and socks I bought probably four years ago, and they still seem fine to me.
I am not sure if this is just me but I typically never throw away clothes, therefore I have a lot to choose from, and I am always satisfied one way or another. But, every time I hear about fast fashion, the idea makes me feel guilty, but why should I when I take care of my clothes and wear these fast fashion brands as long as my other high quality clothes?
I must say however, I am not defending how these clothes were made, as I know certain clothes are more ethical than others and stopping this process is a hard problem. But this is the same issue with plastic straws in my opinion. When you are in a restaurant with a soda fountain and you see the plastic straws in their dispenser, you probably hesitate to take one nowadays because the issue is being widespread. This is a fantastic choice for your personal moral, but the next person will probably take one and not think twice about it. Just because you choose to boycott something that is already available to be consumed, does not mean the next person will have the same point of view. I believe it is in the individual store or company's ethical decision to stop carrying a certain damaging product, because the plastic straws are already made, and your decision to pick it up means next to nothing. Now substitute "plastic straws" with "fast-fashion clothing" and it's practically the same problem.
Consumers will always continue to use plastic and fast fashion like it is wired in our brains. We know it is bad, but it is too convenient to pass up. The decision to use them is ultimately up to you, but do not beat yourself up over it. These issues are important, but if you need a straw or a plastic lid to prevent spilling in a car or see something that you really like and know you will use in Forever 21, do not feel guilty about that. Try to do your best to make it up later by recycling or reusing a water bottle and picking up trash. Remember that you are only one human and you cannot fix this issue by yourself.
- Gretchen
